The Neighbor Bridge Inc. is accepting applications for its 6th annual Staunton Waynesboro Augusta Thanks-gifting.
“Thanksgiving is how we started,” said Chaz Fillion of the nonprofit.
Families and individuals who live in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County and are in need of a Thanksgiving meal on November 28 are encouraged to apply online.
“And it’s any family size,” Chaz Fillion said. He said families as large as 11 have applied. Sixty applications have been received so far and the nonprofit’s limit is 100 families.
The application process is necessary in order to ensure services are not duplicated.
“We do speak to the other agencies that provide meals,” Chaz Fillion said.
Six years ago, The Neighbor Bridge began with a goal of helping the area’s families who are in need. SWAT began and then Chaz and Trisha Fillion set out to have seven Little Free Food Pantries throughout the area. Now, they also manage The Little Grocery and a clothes closet in the basement of Fishersville Community Church, which are open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. The nonprofit is about to open a Traveling Coat Closet at Rosenwald Community Center in Waynesboro.
“We’re trying to do what we can and reach as many as we can,” Chaz Fillion said.
Community support is vital for The Neighbor Bridge’s SWAT project. A donation of $120 provides a full Thanksgiving meal for a family, $30 provides a new winter jacket for a child and $40 supplies a box of diapers for a baby or toddler.
“We could not do it without the community,” Trisha Fillion said. She said an individual or family can donate online to provide a Thanksgiving meal and “would know on Thanksgiving while we’re eating our dinner that another family is eating.”
The nonprofit hopes to raise $14,000 by November 20 and reach its ultimate goal of $20,000 by December 31, 2024. Thanksgiving meals will be picked up Saturday, November 23 at the church and will include a frozen turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, corn, carrots, celery, cookies, stuffing and a Costco pumpkin pie.
Trisha Fillion said that pickup on November 23 is by appointment only.
According to Chaz Fillion, pickup also provides an opportunity for The Neighbor Bridge to speak with families and find out individual needs. He said local partnerships with Amazon, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, the Office on Youth, Department of Social Services and the Valley Community Services Board have enabled The Neighbor Bridge to grow in the support it provides.
“The Office on Youth has been a wonderful connection between us and Amazon,” he said.
While the need to provide food, clothing and services to the area’s needy is not going away, he said how The Neighbor Bridge goes about it is changing by becoming more focused.
“Our hope is you get to see some of the families succeed.”
Donations are welcome online and anyone interested in volunteering on November 23 is also welcome to contact the nonprofit through its website.
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Rebecca Barnabi
